Blown away by all the comments. I’m elk hunting right now but hiked out of the woods to respond to comments. I’ll do my best to respond before hiking back in the morning.
F pellets, be a man and man a fire. I’d rather use saw dust like a PK smoker (it’s electric like your trager). Trager doesn’t burn like lump to sear, doesnt smoke like real wood etc. it does a lot well, but nothing great.
I'm brand new to this pellet cooker/smoker thing. I purchased a Traeger 575 and was excited to get home and try it out. After the initial auger priming (Traeger Cherry/Apple wood pellets) and raising the temperature as suggested (400 degrees), I heated the Traeger back up to 300 degrees and smoked some salmon. No smoke!! I then took the cooked salmon in and chowed down. The salmon tasted like it just came out of the microwave! At that point, I went back to Ace Hardware thinking my Traeger was broken. The manager talked me into keeping the smoker and making sure I continued using the Traeger pellets. After watching your very informative video, I will definitely purchase the CookinPellets or the Lumber Jack pellets. Plus, turning the heat down to around 180-250 degrees will help. BTW, I'll continue to follow your videos. Thanks!!
Crazy to see how this channel has exploded! Started watching in 2016 when I was trying to do my first brisket (I was 15) and found your channel around 2k subscribers. Thanks for the continued dedication and quality
I've been an authorized LumberJack dealer for about four years now. This video validates the reason I became a dealer. I don't hate Traeger pellets, but after I found LumberJack pellets, I never looked back. Thanks Jeremy!
I have smoked food for several years. I used Traeger pellets when I first purchased my Traeger Timberline 1300 smoker a few years ago. Smoking often and the $19 per bag prompted me to find pellets at a lower cost. Fortunately, I came across Lumberjack pellets at a local Rural King store, 3 miles from my home. They cost approximately $9 per bag there, which is a significant difference. I am extremely satisfied with the results of the Lumberjack pellets. I have used their Competition Blend, Pecan, Cherry, Apple and Mesquite blends for various types of foods, sometimes mixing flavors to get the desired results. I highly recommend Lumberjack pellets for use with a Traeger Timberline 1300 smoker, to which I have no financial benefit.
@@michaelstevenson881 happen to see your comment about rural king selling lumberjack my store has all blends in stock never thought of checking there just like to say thanks an $8.88 a bag great deal 👍
Thanks Jeremy for the amazing honest video. Straight message for Traeger to step up their game. I love their Ironwood grill but not the pellets. Lumber Jack for me. Great job sir!
Great job on this vid explaining the difference about pellets. I have used a pellet smoker for 7 years now and I use nothing but lumberjack pellets and trust me I have tried all of them except for the knotty wood you mentioned. Lumberjack has given me consistent performance and smokeyness that I desire from them. The oak is very good but for my taste their competition blend is the best and most versatile one they make and I use it on everything from fish, pork, chicken, lamb, duck and beef. The best part is I have a local store that carries them for $8.99 a 20 lb bag. To any who may read this and are looking for a great pellet that will up your game and not break the bank, you gotta try Lumberjack Pellets.
I have smoked food for several years. I used Traeger pellets when I first purchased my Traeger Timberline 1300 smoker a few years ago. Smoking often and the $19 per bag prompted me to find pellets at a lower cost. Fortunately, I came across Lumberjack pellets at a local Rural King store, 3 miles from my home. They cost approximately $9 per bag there, which is a significant difference. I am extremely satisfied with the results of the Lumberjack pellets. I have used their Competition Blend, Pecan, Cherry, Apple and Mesquite blends for various types of foods, sometimes mixing flavors to get the desired results. I highly recommend Lumberjack pellets for use with a Traeger Timberline 1300 smoker, to which I have no financial benefit.
I’ve just got myself a Traeger pellet smoker so thank you for unbiased video. Certainly opened my eyes on certain things about flavoured pellets that I would have never known.
I just did a price comparison: - Costco Traeger Premium - $0.78/lb - Lumber Jack Hickory - $1.61/lb - CookinPellets Perfect Mix - $1.00/lb - Knotty Wood Almond Wood - $1.47/lb Use that for what it is worth.
I’ve been working at a corn refinery for 16yrs and I make feed pellets in my area. The process of making pellets is the same, no matter the material. Every material needs moisture added in the conditioner before it enters the pellet mill. Otherwise, you risk premature equipment failure or overheating that can result in a fire in the mill due to a lack of moisture. The difference with Traeger pellets is definitely the additives used as binder during the pelletizing process. For them it’s cheaper to add oil than steam inside the conditioner before it enters the pellet mill. Also they likely don’t have to replace the rolls and dies as often as other companies. So basically they sacrifice flavor for saving money on equipment maintenance. It’s easily $10k per pellet mill for a roll and die set each time they get replaced. So if they’re operating 4 mills that have to be rebuilt every 3 months vs 1.5 months, you can see why they prefer to add oil. It saves them a ton of money on maintenance!!!
That savings on maintenance costs could potentially have a negative impact on their bottom line though. For instance, I tried their pellets and was not impressed... So instead of getting my $20 a month (give or take) on pellets, they don't get a dime from me... Now multiply my money by how ever many other people like myself who went with another brand, and that maintenance cost savings potentially cost them more than they saved... I do appreciate the explanation...I had no idea about that stuff.
@@chris_favreau you learned from your purchase not to buy again. Some people and lots of them will buy blindly because of the name abs think it’s the best they’ll use.
@@MountainMcCumbee totally agree with you.... But for "real" bbq folks... The ones that buy a crap ton of bags a year anyway, you know that we like to find what works best overall... So they may not go out of business, but idk that it's so cut and dry that they are "saving" money in the long run by using their current alleged business practice.
I may come back and comment on this when I have time to do so. Been in the business 23 years and have made BBQ pellets for all the major brands. You do not need to add moisture if controlled with the drying process. Only need to add moisture or oils if your product is already kiln dried or below around 6% moisture
@@jimsonnenburg7440 which brands would you consider to be the best? Maybe the most filler free? I'm not even sure if what I'm asking isn't stupid, but I have no ideas about that industry other than how to fill my hopper 🙂
Thanks for the video and I appreciate your open and honest approach! I cook on a Traeger 780 and and 885. I have used most brands of pellets and agree with your video. For my “big or special” cooks I use 100% oak pellets from lumberjack or cookin’ pellets. For every day cooking I use Traeger pellets because they are so available. When it comes to Traeger pellets I like the Texas Beef blend for heavier smoke. I like apple or cherry for sides and desserts. I don’t keep any of the Costco blend around. Also… the Turkey pellets are great! The addition of rosemary really helps the poultry shine. I have a lot of experience with pellets and at this moment have more than 1800 lbs at home.
Dude, greatly appreciated as to the labeling of the bags. The ones that say flavor added woods is a great tip, thanks. And ya I pick up my new searwood TODAY! Can’t wait to try !
Down here in Texas we have B&B pellets. I use their competition blend and it seems like a great pellet. I use my CC pellet grill about twice every week for the last 3 years. No problems with the pellets.
I also should mention that Jack Daniel's makes a whiskey barrel charcoal pellet that you mix half and half with your regular and it tends to give a better bark and closer feel to traditional smokers
I’m not saying you’re wrong, but Jeremy did a video where he cooked with a straight up bourbon barrel - that was still saturated with bourbon - and it made no difference lol. I think that is just a marketing sham
@@GM-122 you're right. I think the advantage to Jack pellets is that they're a widely available decent quality oak. I use them (chips and pellets) blended with fruit tree wood, but I don't think the whiskey adds anything.
I'm relatively new to pellet grill smoking and the first bag that I bought was Pit Boss competition blend pellets. Pretty good flavor and burns good. Looking to "branch" out however and try a oak pellet. Nice video.
I started out using Traeger pellets and seen an ad for Rural King where they sell Lumberjack for 1/2 the price of Traeger. Tried them on a whim and I was very surprised at the difference in smoke flavor. Lumberjack is what goes in my pellet grill now!
@@Spmccoy13 They can't void your warranty for not using their pellets. No way to prove it. Just don't offer them the info. Say "yes" when asked. LOL. I've been using other brands since mine was just a few months old. It is 14 years old now and still going.
I have been using CookinPellets Perfect Mix for the last three years and my family and friends love the flavor. My cousin usually uses Traeger pellets since he has some weird loyalty since he uses a Traeger grill, but he always comments and asks questions about the pellets I use because he says not only do they seem to produce better flavor, he thinks they smell better while they are burning/cooking. Plus they seem to be a decent price on Amazon for a 40 pound bag and they always seem to arrive within a couple of days. Great video Jeremy!
I Totally agree, im a Stick Burner guy and here in Texas its Post Oak, I have a Traeger Pro-780 and I have the Traeger Pellets and No Smoke Flavor at all..I need some type of Smoke taste, will be getting a bag of Lumber jack Pellets Thanks for the information..
I’ve had my pellet smoker for about a year and after trying about 7 different pellets I settled on Kingsford. All natural, no fillers, little ash. I’m willing to pay for shipping but these happen to be available at some of the nearby Walmarts. Their hickory pellets have the most smoke flavor.
I will agree with you there, I regularly use Kingsford hickory and cherry. I always get good consistent results and the flavor is just as good as the $$$ brands. I just received a couple bags of the Royal Oak Charcoal Pellets and will be doing a pork shoulder with a mix of charcoal and hickory. I'm looking forward to the results!
I’ve settled on Kingsford too. Good flavor and super availability. I find it funny Treager Pellets are more expensive as a rule. Treager good grills not so good pellets.
Same - I've had really good luck with the 100% Kingsford Hickory and Cherry. Sometimes the 20lbs bag goes on sale at Publix for like $7. I will usually mix the hickory and cherry 50/50 when I don't want as intense smoke for poultry. I just wish they made a 100% Oak pellet, but the hickory is pretty strong smoke flavor for red meat.
Ive been using the Recteq Ultimate blend for a little over a year now and it has become my favorite pellet. My mother has a traeger pellet smoker and always complained about it not giving a noticeable smoke flavor to the point she almost stopped using her smoker. Once she tried the same pellets i have been using she has told me how much difference it has made and she has started using the smoker again. Great video by the way,
Hey Jeremy, good job. Two years ago, you did "The Ultimate Smoker Comparison". Do you think that with better pellets, the results might be closer (the pellet grill comming a distant third)?
I think the results would be closer. I need to do some testing with different pellets to see how they perform head to head. There is a pretty stark difference I think in flavor from traeger pellets and other brands.
@@MadScientistBBQ are you going to use a smoke tube or tray in the cook sometime soon? I’ve had great success with the tray. Key for me was to make sure the pellets are well lit but not over the top so that they are smoldering. Thanks for the videos!
@@darthbane3557 I've been satisfied with grillas pellets...got them when I got the grill. I've only had them though, they've produced good flavors on everything I've made. Definitely looking forward to trying other brands once I go through these!
Glad I saw this , have always used Traeger pellets and have not been real satisfied with the smoke flavor. I looked to see what we have locally, we have Royal Oak pellets and I noticed that besides wood pellets they have a product called charcoal pellets using the same process for lump charcoal, would love to hear your opinion on that if you have tried them.
Jeremy, thank you for this video and all of those who have commented. This will save me a lot of money and time. I have a big green egg, Pitmaker Vault, UDS, and a PK360 grill and know nothing about pellet smoking. I recently acquired a Louisiana Grills founder series pellet smoker through a vendor point rewards system in my business. My first few cooks on my smoker I thought were ok, but limited flavor and smoke and I used Trager pellets simply from the name, availability, and my overall ignorance of the process. This video and viewers response was a gold mine find for me and the knowledge I received from the video and viewers comments will save me time, money and definitely fewer disappointed meals!! Thank you all!!
I have a Mak Two Star and I love it. The only problem is periodically the pellets I’ve used (CookinPellets) have a moisture problem when left in the hopper. As a result I switched over to the Trager pellets which seem to have a slick coating on the outside that are less likely to swell due to moisture.
Jeremy - might be time for a follow up video on pellets. This one was super helpful for me. Have tried the hickory Cookinpellets so far. Was using Bear Mountain beforehand. On my Traeger, the cookinpellets have some trouble getting started. Need to clean out ash after every cook. Need to set initial temp to 500 to get it above target temp. Then once over target by 50 degrees, I set to my target. Also am seeing wider temp range on my traeger so it’s a bit more “fire management” on the pellet grill for me. These aren’t complaints but would love to see you survey your subscribers and summarize what people are saying.
I did my first cook on the smoker side of my PitBoss KC Combo yesterday. Used PitBoss pellets as I had bought those with that unit at a big-box retailer (it’s a dual electric smoker/propane griddle). Wish I had seen this comment first. I had a similar problem getting the pellets burning steady at 225F, because the smoker kept shutting down (I had done a burn-in on the smoker side a while back without issues, but have been cooking on the griddle half before yesterday). I was considering changing out the pellets in case it was a moisture issue, but first I tried running it up to 450F for about 20 min, and after that if worked fine when it came back to 225F. I smoked the ribeye at 225F to a 105F internal temp (found my smoker probe and my Thermapen agreed within about 2F), then I seared it on the propane griddle side. Unfortunately, I overshot the steak temp during searing so it was medium rather than medium rare. The ribeye was still quite moist, and pretty good although not at the doneness I prefer. Didn’t think that I was getting a lot of smoke flavor though. Next time I’ll probably pull it from smoker at 100F and then sear it on the griddle. The griddle really puts a nice sear on it due to the large area of surface contact! This morning I’ve been watching pellet reviews to see if I might want to make changes. Very interesting to note that in the review Jeremy did with TheBBQHQ, Traeger pellets were the top-rated ones using multiple tasters. I’d suspect that might be influenced by what the tasters use at home, as mentioned in the review.
That's the main problems I have is not enough flavor. I have been using pitboss because of traeger pellet issues. But I also use a smoke tube with chips in it. Thanks for the tip.
I’ve been using kingsFord. I get at my grocery store $15. It says 100% wood no fillers or binders. They carry hickory and cherry. I have tried Treager I can’t say I notice a difference except price. I just ordered hickory cookinpellets. A couple of bucks more but free shipping. I’m cooking on a ZGrill. Everything I’ve cooked has come out good but I don’t have anything to compare it too. I’ll see if I notice any difference.
@@shawngillogly6873 Yeah, my local place had Kingsford reps out earlier this year - they gave me a 6# bag to try. Asked my guy what he thought about them & he said "They're great, Lumberjack makes them." Tried the hickory and they were indeed quite good. I usually go with a local supplier here (I get some awesome mesquite pellets from W. TX), but LJ & KF are my other go to pellets. I did just order some of those hickory CookinPellets to try!
OK Jeremy, you hooked me. I subscribed and rang the bell. You seem to give the straight story with no fillers. I like that. P.S. I'm a newbie to pellet grills and so far I love my GMG Peak!
I’ve had some issues maintaining heat/fluctuating temps and been using Traeger pellets, will have to try your recommended brands to see if the pellet is the issue. Appreciate your commentary!
I have also found B&B post oak pellets to be a great, affordable option. However, as important as the quality of pellet you’re using is, it doesn’t automatically equate to a great smoke ring or that bark that you’re looking for to replicate the results of a stick burner. To do that, you have to slow the process way down in a pellet cooker if your going to get that “Texas brisket” bark that we all love. Forget 12 hour cooks. Think in the 16-20 hour ballpark. Malcolm Reed does a great pellet cooker brisket video that helped me understand how to extend the cook to help create that Texas style bark that’s still a massive crowd pleaser when there just isn’t time to manage the offset.
B&B post oak are the best I have found. They don’t give off a cardboard smell like others I have tried. I use the same technique also smoke for at least 12 hours then turn up and cook to tenderness
I have used the Treager pellets and had inconsistent tempreture which causes a build up of saw dust. I had some after burn problems with my smoker lighting again when I went to put it in storage a few hours after the cool down. So I have switched to Bear Mountain and have had good luck so far. I've went through about 6 bags of the Bear Mountain with cooking everything from brisket to wings and had constant smoke that I've liked.
BBQers Delight Peach Pellets! I smoked a turkey with them two years ago and then again last year. BEST by far we've ever had. Their pellets are 100% wood, the peach are actually 30% peach/70% oak. Really nice flavor.
Jeremy - Nice job on this subject. Difficult to sort through brands for anything BBQ. Thanks for educating us. We have used Cookin’ Pellets in three generations of Traeger smokers with good success.
Thanks so much for this information. I've just been using Jealous Devil because it's my go-to lump. Gonna order some Knottywood and Cookin' Pellets and see how they compare.
Cookin Pellets Perfect Blend is my favorite too. I'd like a good cherry or pecan pellet for ribs. But I can't complain about anything I've cooked with Cookin Pellets.
I have had a Traeger, Yoder, GMG and now I have the new Long star pellet grills and I have tried just about all brands pellets and the ones I like is Lumberjack and Smoke ring. Thanks Mad for the really well done videos you do.
I've had good results in my GMG DB Prime with Lumber Jack, Bear Mountain, and B&B. B&B Championship has become my "standard" pellet right now because of burn rate, heat output, and the blend of post oak, pecan, and cherry taste great and give great color, bark, and most of all great smoke flavor to everything I cook.
I just got my first smoker and a bag of bear mountain pellets, ganna make pulled pork this weekend. Hopefully they're good, they had a great smell when i did my burnin
I bought a pellet smoker and the very first pellets that I bought were Lumberjack hickory pellets. I have never tried any other pellets because these worked very well. They are also available at Atwoods where I live in Texas.
I’ve been using Lumberjack, mainly oak and pecan for years, so it”s gratifying to have my decision validated by other meat smokin’ folk! I look forward to trying out the brands you mentioned that I had not heard of…THANKS!
I use the Gourmet Traeger blend from Costco and the bag itself says Hardwood Pellets. Then in the description it describes that their U.S. mills process pure hardwood. The bag for it is also heavier duty than the normal bags. Just food for thought. Great vid!
I only use lumberjack pellets and I mix competition blend with char hickory 50:50. I smoke my meat for 30-45 minutes then turn the grill up for grilling the meat to get a canalization.
I have been using the BBQr’s Delight pellets. I’ve enjoyed the flavor they give and the selection of different woods they have like sassafras and orange. I’ve been using my pellet grill for over a year and I’m always wanting to try different things to improve the quality. Good luck on your elk hunt Jeremy.
Lumber Jack are my go to pellets...I get them at Dick's Sporting Goods of all places. Competition blend is probably my favorite overall...fruit woods are my second favorite.
Was looking forward to seeing the results of the Pellet Smoker VS Offset smoker face-off. Are we getting a video soon about that? Thank you for all the amazing content!
When I add my smoke tube to my pellet smoker I just purchased recently with half chips and half pellets it is just a good if not better than my offset. That’s because I been using a offset for 25 years.
I have been using a pellet smoker for about five years and have used Traeger pellet pit boss pellet and lumberjack. Out of all three I have all ways notice lumberjack to be better. Lumberjack does have a blend and some of There flavors. I love watching your videos and have learned a lot from them. Thank you
Awesome info! Thank you for this. I just bought a pellet smoker and wasn’t happy with the first cook from Traeger pellets this weekend. You’re awesome, keep it up
I typically run the better pellets during the first 4 hours when you absorb the most smoke flavor, and then if I finish on my pellet smoker I switch to one of the cheaper blends, more recently it's been Sam's Club competition blend. From a cost and flavor perspective this is the best I have found so far.
@@AnontheGOAT Does your house smell like smoke over the next week or two? I did that once and got tired of the smell. I mean, I love the smell and all, but not heavily 24/7. If I had a spare oven in the garage or something, this would be what I do as well.
Bought my 1st Traeger around 2007, and I am on my 3rd. I used Bear Mountain on my 1st and it clogged the auger just before our class reunion. I now have an Ironwood 650 and look forward to testing out your pellet tips.
Thank you Jeremy! For someone that's fairly new to the backyard pellet smoker this video was super helpful. Makes you think about aspects of the product you buy and how it effects the flavor and overall out come. Super informative!
I've actually been waiting for you to do a video like this one. I wasn't sure if you would because I know pellet smokers are not your favorite. I've used Traeger pellets, and they are ok, but not great. I've also used Knotty Wood, and I LOVE them. I've tried both their pellets, almond and plum. I find the plum to be great for smoking bacon (which is a BIG consumer of my smoker time in this house). So it was good to hear someone who knows a lot more than I do give kudos to the pellets I use. I am interested in trying the CookinPellets, so those might just be my next purchase. Thank you!
@@re1ner you can buy bacon racks online. I bought mine from Pit Boss's website, as I have a Pit Boss pellet smoker. What I love is that the racks have grease trays on the bottom that capture the bacon grease, which I put in mason jars and save for cooking with.
@@JSFurst nice. Looking at one on Amazon right now. How long does the grease last for you and do you refrigerate? Also, what's your cook time for the bacon? All the online recipes tend to overcook.
@@re1ner I leave it on the smoker for about an hour and a half at 225-250. I flip it on the racks half way through the cook. And yes, I refrigerate the bacon grease. It's hard to tell how long it lasts because I make a lot of bacon and use the grease pretty quickly. Though I really only keep 16 oz on hand at any time. This last one has been in the fridge about 3 weeks.
Love Lumberjack...they are local here in WI and the local Farm & Fleet store has them for $9 all the time and they often have them buy one get one 50% off.
We think B&B pellets are an incredible value. Haven’t found a better pellet for the price. We recently upgraded from Traeger Timberline 1300 to a Yoder YS640S and boy oh boy what a difference!
I have had my recteq rt590 for 7 years. I cook 2turkeys 4chickens 2 pork shoulders and 2 packer briskets every week for meal prep. I use recteq ultimate premium blend and use a medium size smoker box and add diamond king smoking wood chunks like post oak on briskets. I have used just about every store available pellet when in a pinch and never seem to get the same quality. Thank you for all you do as it has raised my bbq to a level of taste and consistency of quality time after time.
Good video, do you know if the brand of pellets you recommended run well in a Trager grill? For example, Do they gum up as you say or create a lot of ash?
From what I have seen, Traeger brand makes way more ash than others. And you use way more pellets for the same cook. I think if you use a cheaper hard wood, there is less BTU per lb than a real hardwood.
Can you try Sam’s brand “smokehouse” pellets the bag says natural with no flavors or oils. I really like them and would like to see how they stack up compared to some of the other top of the line brands.
I like the Smokehouse pellets also. I have also used the traeger and pit boss pellets. I personally think the smokehouse has a better flavor and I also realized this summer that the smokehouse pellets must have a harder pellet. I made pulled pork twice this summer, 10 hour smoke time. The first time was with pit boss and my hopper was almost empty by the end. The smokehouse hopper was just under half the second time. I've only had my smoker for about 2 years now but personally I think the smokehouse gives pretty good flavor
Thanks for this great video!! I am rookie just got a traeger pro 575 in august never smoked a thing before that. Now I use my smoker 3-4 times a week. I’ve only used what’s been available for pellets at Walmart. It’s been hit or miss. But now I know what to look for!
MS BBQ, I'm your newest student! Thanks for another informative video. I 've been using CookinPellets for many years. Never a problem and purchase them on Ebay.
I have tried several brands myself, and Bear Mountain BBQ pellets has a good flavor, burns hit and clean. Much less ash in burn pot, which you didn't get into in your video.
Thanks! I use Kingsford and Reqteq pellets. I have a Bullseye for grilling only. (I have a kamado and an offset for smoking) I will try some of the other pellets.
I have a Pit Boss Pro Series 4 smoker, and I’ve only used the pit boss branded pellets. However I’ve learned with this smoker if I cook at 225-ish I get awesome smoke ring and flavor. I plan on trying some of the brands in this video to see how they turn out, but my lower and slower method with my smoker provides awesome flavor with the Pit Boss branded pellets.
Thank you! I am a novice at smoking meats. I own a Treager pellet smoker and Iike it a lot.My only complaint with it was lack of smoke flavor.I cant wait to try some different pellets. Your vids are great!
Thanks for the video Jeremy! I have a Blazn Grid Iron [similar in size to a Yoder YS640] and have almost always used Lumberjack pellets, mostly sticking to the Competition Blend [Maple Hickory Cherry Blend] (1/3, 1/3, 1/3). Good smoke flavor and have never had a clog or issue with them. And can be found fairly cheap at Rural King for around $9/20lb bag.
Here is my 2 cents: Cookinpellets- great flavor and smoke ring BUT my pit boss tends to flame out on overnight cooks with them. Bear mountain- awesome pellets. I mix oak and hickory for my cooks when I use my pit boss. Pit boss - lots is dust at the bottom and flavor is not quite there Sams brand pellets - good all around pellet with great flavor and cheap. My preference: bear mountain I have not use lumberjack yet.
Thank you for making this video I use a Traeger with traeger pellets for years and I was never happy with my ribs or brisket. I never knew that pellets could make a big difference always thought they all the same. Thank you so much I can’t wait for warm weather and cook a brisket with new pallets.
Love the blends from BBQrs delight. Usually fast shipping too. Been experimenting with Bear Mountain recently and been happy with them as well. Cookin Pellets were great but I felt like my bags had a lot more jamming issues.
Thanks for giving pellet smokers some airtime. An offset is in my future, but only after I'm done working 80 hours a week. Hope to see more pellet pit vids. Always very good results with pitboss, but will try the others.
I got a Camp Chef SG24 last month. Before my first cook I extensively researched different types of pellets. I came to the same conclusion as you, look for bags that say "Natural hardwood". I really wanted Lumberjack but in a small town my local store didn't have any. The second best I found was Bear Mountain pellets, specifically Hickory and Mesquite. I went with the Hickory and had 5 successful cooks so far with amazing flavor and smoke rings. I really want to try Pecan, might have to order online. Thanks for confirming and adding to the knowledge I already had.
My first bag of pellets was a Bear Mountain mesquite and I was very happy with the results. Wanting to try something new, I bought Pit Boss from WalMart... Underwhelmed to say the least. Bear Mountain went on sale at my local grocery store for @ $12 a bag and they never raised the price back up so I've been buying their varieties and have never been disappointed.
I've had good results with bear mountain too, will definitely grab a bag of lumberjack to try next spring/summer though (I have at least 40lb left to use, and the smoker doesn't see much use in the winter).
I have been using a traeger smoker for over a year now and I've used a lot of different brands. I never liked traeger pellets or pit boss pellets, ever since I used lumberjack, I've never used anything else. Awesome video!
Man I love this channel. Any way I went from sticks to pellets (life was getting in the way) and I really missed being able to make my own blends of wood. I've found that Bear Mountain (can be found at Tractor Supply and Lowe's) has the best pellet for blends. For an exceptional smoke of one type of wood, I agree Knotty Wood (can be found at Home Depot) is where it is.
@@GabbaGhoul89 yeah it's just the two flavors of almond and plum. But honestly they're both really well rounded that I don't really have a problem with just the two flavors.
Get back in the woods and get an elk! That is way more important. I enjoy all of your videos and I'm looking forward to hear your opinion on the charcoal palettes that came out. Pellet grills aren't my favorite but they are a convenient option.
I’m pretty sure B&B pellets have the same characteristics of those Lumberjack. It even says on their website for their Oak pellets. No Scrap Wood No Bark No artificial flavors/smoke No Alder or Soft Wood Real Wood Less Ash Cleaner-Longer Burn
I use bear mountain fairly cheap and easy to find in my area. I thought they had great flavor until I used an offset for 4th of July weekend and now I find the flavor lacking. Bought a smoke tube to try and enhance flavor trying it out tomorrow actually, so we shall see.
I agree, adding smoke tube is a must. Kinda tricky to get it going so that it’s not totally smoldering with thick smoke. I prefer the Amazn smoker maze. Make sure you get the one specifically for pellets.
Hey Jeremy. Started cooking on my basic treager back in 2016. Had some amazing fun with it. I'm a kettle grill guy but really missed the set it and forget it cook. The price for my new twenty-two was to good to pass up. I certainly do have some refresher to catch up on. Brands of pellets. Time and temps. Really dig your channel.
Blown away by all the comments. I’m elk hunting right now but hiked out of the woods to respond to comments. I’ll do my best to respond before hiking back in the morning.
Legend
Elk meat episodes coming hopefully
nice bbq game meats
F pellets, be a man and man a fire. I’d rather use saw dust like a PK smoker (it’s electric like your trager). Trager doesn’t burn like lump to sear, doesnt smoke like real wood etc. it does a lot well, but nothing great.
@@jasonj6568 your not wrong but it is convenient, electric smokers are the crock pots of bbqs
I'm brand new to this pellet cooker/smoker thing. I purchased a Traeger 575 and was excited to get home and try it out. After the initial auger priming (Traeger Cherry/Apple wood pellets) and raising the temperature as suggested (400 degrees), I heated the Traeger back up to 300 degrees and smoked some salmon. No smoke!! I then took the cooked salmon in and chowed down. The salmon tasted like it just came out of the microwave! At that point, I went back to Ace Hardware thinking my Traeger was broken. The manager talked me into keeping the smoker and making sure I continued using the Traeger pellets. After watching your very informative video, I will definitely purchase the CookinPellets or the Lumber Jack pellets. Plus, turning the heat down to around 180-250 degrees will help. BTW, I'll continue to follow your videos. Thanks!!
Crazy to see how this channel has exploded! Started watching in 2016 when I was trying to do my first brisket (I was 15) and found your channel around 2k subscribers. Thanks for the continued dedication and quality
I've been an authorized LumberJack dealer for about four years now. This video validates the reason I became a dealer. I don't hate Traeger pellets, but after I found LumberJack pellets, I never looked back. Thanks Jeremy!
Just bought my trigger it says inside only used Traeger pellets some people tell me it's not a big deal to use other things is this true
I have smoked food for several years. I used Traeger pellets when I first purchased my Traeger Timberline 1300 smoker a few years ago. Smoking often and the $19 per bag prompted me to find pellets at a lower cost. Fortunately, I came across Lumberjack pellets at a local Rural King store, 3 miles from my home. They cost approximately $9 per bag there, which is a significant difference. I am extremely satisfied with the results of the Lumberjack pellets. I have used their Competition Blend, Pecan, Cherry, Apple and Mesquite blends for various types of foods, sometimes mixing flavors to get the desired results. I highly recommend Lumberjack pellets for use with a Traeger Timberline 1300 smoker, to which I have no financial benefit.
@@michaelstevenson881 happen to see your comment about rural king selling lumberjack my store has all blends in stock never thought of checking there just like to say thanks an $8.88 a bag great deal 👍
@@anthonycash8172 .
@@anthonycash8172 use what ever you want man!! You will have no problem.
Thanks Jeremy for the amazing honest video. Straight message for Traeger to step up their game. I love their Ironwood grill but not the pellets. Lumber Jack for me. Great job sir!
Great job on this vid explaining the difference about pellets. I have used a pellet smoker for 7 years now and I use nothing but lumberjack pellets and trust me I have tried all of them except for the knotty wood you mentioned. Lumberjack has given me consistent performance and smokeyness that I desire from them. The oak is very good but for my taste their competition blend is the best and most versatile one they make and I use it on everything from fish, pork, chicken, lamb, duck and beef. The best part is I have a local store that carries them for $8.99 a 20 lb bag. To any who may read this and are looking for a great pellet that will up your game and not break the bank, you gotta try Lumberjack Pellets.
Amazon selling 20lb bags of Lumberjack for $30-$32. You stated you get it locally for $9? Wow!
@@StingerPat Amazon has sellers selling 40 pound bags of pit boss, which are $15 at walmart, for over $40...lol
Amazon is hustling us on that Lumberjack. How about I pay you to buy and ship it to me at a lower price? Lol
😅 9:14
I have smoked food for several years. I used Traeger pellets when I first purchased my Traeger Timberline 1300 smoker a few years ago. Smoking often and the $19 per bag prompted me to find pellets at a lower cost. Fortunately, I came across Lumberjack pellets at a local Rural King store, 3 miles from my home. They cost approximately $9 per bag there, which is a significant difference. I am extremely satisfied with the results of the Lumberjack pellets. I have used their Competition Blend, Pecan, Cherry, Apple and Mesquite blends for various types of foods, sometimes mixing flavors to get the desired results. I highly recommend Lumberjack pellets for use with a Traeger Timberline 1300 smoker, to which I have no financial benefit.
I’ve just got myself a Traeger pellet smoker so thank you for unbiased video. Certainly opened my eyes on certain things about flavoured pellets that I would have never known.
I just did a price comparison:
- Costco Traeger Premium - $0.78/lb
- Lumber Jack Hickory - $1.61/lb
- CookinPellets Perfect Mix - $1.00/lb
- Knotty Wood Almond Wood - $1.47/lb
Use that for what it is worth.
$10.99 for 20# of Lumberjack pellets comes out to $.55/lb. About a third of the $1.61 you posted.
@@steveterranova8500 lumberjack is $25.00 for a 20 pound bag where I am. So i guess it depends on the price in your area.
@@Hacky2447 you should move here. 😀
🔥💨🔥
all of those suck.
I’ve been working at a corn refinery for 16yrs and I make feed pellets in my area. The process of making pellets is the same, no matter the material. Every material needs moisture added in the conditioner before it enters the pellet mill. Otherwise, you risk premature equipment failure or overheating that can result in a fire in the mill due to a lack of moisture. The difference with Traeger pellets is definitely the additives used as binder during the pelletizing process. For them it’s cheaper to add oil than steam inside the conditioner before it enters the pellet mill. Also they likely don’t have to replace the rolls and dies as often as other companies. So basically they sacrifice flavor for saving money on equipment maintenance. It’s easily $10k per pellet mill for a roll and die set each time they get replaced. So if they’re operating 4 mills that have to be rebuilt every 3 months vs 1.5 months, you can see why they prefer to add oil. It saves them a ton of money on maintenance!!!
That savings on maintenance costs could potentially have a negative impact on their bottom line though. For instance, I tried their pellets and was not impressed... So instead of getting my $20 a month (give or take) on pellets, they don't get a dime from me... Now multiply my money by how ever many other people like myself who went with another brand, and that maintenance cost savings potentially cost them more than they saved...
I do appreciate the explanation...I had no idea about that stuff.
@@chris_favreau you learned from your purchase not to buy again. Some people and lots of them will buy blindly because of the name abs think it’s the best they’ll use.
@@MountainMcCumbee totally agree with you.... But for "real" bbq folks... The ones that buy a crap ton of bags a year anyway, you know that we like to find what works best overall... So they may not go out of business, but idk that it's so cut and dry that they are "saving" money in the long run by using their current alleged business practice.
I may come back and comment on this when I have time to do so. Been in the business 23 years and have made BBQ pellets for all the major brands. You do not need to add moisture if controlled with the drying process. Only need to add moisture or oils if your product is already kiln dried or below around 6% moisture
@@jimsonnenburg7440 which brands would you consider to be the best? Maybe the most filler free? I'm not even sure if what I'm asking isn't stupid, but I have no ideas about that industry other than how to fill my hopper 🙂
Thanks for the video and I appreciate your open and honest approach!
I cook on a Traeger 780 and and 885. I have used most brands of pellets and agree with your video. For my “big or special” cooks I use 100% oak pellets from lumberjack or cookin’ pellets. For every day cooking I use Traeger pellets because they are so available.
When it comes to Traeger pellets I like the Texas Beef blend for heavier smoke. I like apple or cherry for sides and desserts. I don’t keep any of the Costco blend around. Also… the Turkey pellets are great! The addition of rosemary really helps the poultry shine.
I have a lot of experience with pellets and at this moment have more than 1800 lbs at home.
Dude, greatly appreciated as to the labeling of the bags. The ones that say flavor added woods is a great tip, thanks. And ya I pick up my new searwood TODAY! Can’t wait to try !
I have a RecTeq and love it. I use the RexTeq blend. Red oak, whit oak and hickory. Great smoke ring/taste and always burns clean.
Me too
My problem down here in south Texas is I’ve only seen about two or three brands of pellets here.
Down here in Texas we have B&B pellets. I use their competition blend and it seems like a great pellet. I use my CC pellet grill about twice every week for the last 3 years. No problems with the pellets.
I use B&B pecan for chicken, post oak mixed with some JD pellets for beef.
B&B competition blend is my go to as well
I use B&B competition blend too - any idea why it's cheaper than their other wood varieties?
@@andrewlennane3411 The other only come in 20lb bags in my area at $9.99 a bag. Buy a 40lb. and get it cheaper per pound.9
I also should mention that Jack Daniel's makes a whiskey barrel charcoal pellet that you mix half and half with your regular and it tends to give a better bark and closer feel to traditional smokers
I’m not saying you’re wrong, but Jeremy did a video where he cooked with a straight up bourbon barrel - that was still saturated with bourbon - and it made no difference lol. I think that is just a marketing sham
@@GM-122 you're right. I think the advantage to Jack pellets is that they're a widely available decent quality oak. I use them (chips and pellets) blended with fruit tree wood, but I don't think the whiskey adds anything.
I'm relatively new to pellet grill smoking and the first bag that I bought was Pit Boss competition blend pellets. Pretty good flavor and burns good. Looking to "branch" out however and try a oak pellet. Nice video.
Been using LumberJack char/hickory blend and love the flavor.
I started out using Traeger pellets and seen an ad for Rural King where they sell Lumberjack for 1/2 the price of Traeger. Tried them on a whim and I was very surprised at the difference in smoke flavor. Lumberjack is what goes in my pellet grill now!
It’s not a big deal adding different pellets to your traeger? Just don’t wanna ruin it
@@Spmccoy13 They can't void your warranty for not using their pellets. No way to prove it. Just don't offer them the info. Say "yes" when asked. LOL.
I've been using other brands since mine was just a few months old. It is 14 years old now and still going.
@@Spmccoy13 I started with Traegers pellets then switched to lumberjack and have only been using them for a year now with no issues.
Never thought to think about what pellets I use till this video. I will be trying lumberjack pellets.
Thank you for this video very helpful.
I have been using CookinPellets Perfect Mix for the last three years and my family and friends love the flavor. My cousin usually uses Traeger pellets since he has some weird loyalty since he uses a Traeger grill, but he always comments and asks questions about the pellets I use because he says not only do they seem to produce better flavor, he thinks they smell better while they are burning/cooking. Plus they seem to be a decent price on Amazon for a 40 pound bag and they always seem to arrive within a couple of days. Great video Jeremy!
Love my Perfect Mix. I have been using for like 7 years now.
I Totally agree, im a Stick Burner guy and here in Texas its Post Oak, I have a Traeger Pro-780 and I have the Traeger Pellets and No Smoke Flavor at all..I need some type of Smoke taste, will be getting a bag of Lumber jack Pellets Thanks for the information..
I’ve had my pellet smoker for about a year and after trying about 7 different pellets I settled on Kingsford. All natural, no fillers, little ash. I’m willing to pay for shipping but these happen to be available at some of the nearby Walmarts. Their hickory pellets have the most smoke flavor.
I will agree with you there, I regularly use Kingsford hickory and cherry. I always get good consistent results and the flavor is just as good as the $$$ brands. I just received a couple bags of the Royal Oak Charcoal Pellets and will be doing a pork shoulder with a mix of charcoal and hickory. I'm looking forward to the results!
I’ve settled on Kingsford too. Good flavor and super availability. I find it funny Treager Pellets are more expensive as a rule. Treager good grills not so good pellets.
@@pughs5star643 love to hear about your results.
I found Kingsford 20 lbs bag at Kroger for $5. Just FYI.
Same - I've had really good luck with the 100% Kingsford Hickory and Cherry. Sometimes the 20lbs bag goes on sale at Publix for like $7. I will usually mix the hickory and cherry 50/50 when I don't want as intense smoke for poultry. I just wish they made a 100% Oak pellet, but the hickory is pretty strong smoke flavor for red meat.
Ive been using the Recteq Ultimate blend for a little over a year now and it has become my favorite pellet. My mother has a traeger pellet smoker and always complained about it not giving a noticeable smoke flavor to the point she almost stopped using her smoker. Once she tried the same pellets i have been using she has told me how much difference it has made and she has started using the smoker again. Great video by the way,
Hey Jeremy, good job. Two years ago, you did "The Ultimate Smoker Comparison". Do you think that with better pellets, the results might be closer (the pellet grill comming a distant third)?
If he had the LSG pellet grill, perhaps?
I think the results would be closer. I need to do some testing with different pellets to see how they perform head to head. There is a pretty stark difference I think in flavor from traeger pellets and other brands.
@@MadScientistBBQ I would be interested in an updated comparison video with the best available pellets too
@@MadScientistBBQ are you going to use a smoke tube or tray in the cook sometime soon? I’ve had great success with the tray. Key for me was to make sure the pellets are well lit but not over the top so that they are smoldering. Thanks for the videos!
@@MadScientistBBQ ya we need a pellet test.
Which "wood chips" do you recommend for in a Smoke tube? Or just use the same pellets??
Use the same one
I'm using Bear Mountain in my Grilla Grills smoker. Mostly Pecan, but sometimes Oak and I've tried a few others.
I have a grilla! 💪
I've been using Bear Mtn as well, definitely better than Traeger. Was hoping others could rank if they've tried some brands he mentioned
@@darthbane3557 I've been satisfied with grillas pellets...got them when I got the grill. I've only had them though, they've produced good flavors on everything I've made. Definitely looking forward to trying other brands once I go through these!
Wow, this video is gold. I 100% agree with you about the Traeger pellets. It would be great for Traeger to be more transparent about them too.
Glad I saw this , have always used Traeger pellets and have not been real satisfied with the smoke flavor. I looked to see what we have locally, we have Royal Oak pellets and I noticed that besides wood pellets they have a product called charcoal pellets using the same process for lump charcoal, would love to hear your opinion on that if you have tried them.
Thank you for your information I use kingsford hickory in my Weber smoke fire they last longer and have more flavor
Jeremy, thank you for this video and all of those who have commented. This will save me a lot of money and time. I have a big green egg, Pitmaker Vault, UDS, and a PK360 grill and know nothing about pellet smoking. I recently acquired a Louisiana Grills founder series pellet smoker through a vendor point rewards system in my business. My first few cooks on my smoker I thought were ok, but limited flavor and smoke and I used Trager pellets simply from the name, availability, and my overall ignorance of the process. This video and viewers response was a gold mine find for me and the knowledge I received from the video and viewers comments will save me time, money and definitely fewer disappointed meals!! Thank you all!!
I have a Mak Two Star and I love it. The only problem is periodically the pellets I’ve used (CookinPellets) have a moisture problem when left in the hopper. As a result I switched over to the Trager pellets which seem to have a slick coating on the outside that are less likely to swell due to moisture.
Jeremy - might be time for a follow up video on pellets. This one was super helpful for me. Have tried the hickory Cookinpellets so far. Was using Bear Mountain beforehand. On my Traeger, the cookinpellets have some trouble getting started. Need to clean out ash after every cook. Need to set initial temp to 500 to get it above target temp. Then once over target by 50 degrees, I set to my target. Also am seeing wider temp range on my traeger so it’s a bit more “fire management” on the pellet grill for me. These aren’t complaints but would love to see you survey your subscribers and summarize what people are saying.
I did my first cook on the smoker side of my PitBoss KC Combo yesterday. Used PitBoss pellets as I had bought those with that unit at a big-box retailer (it’s a dual electric smoker/propane griddle). Wish I had seen this comment first. I had a similar problem getting the pellets burning steady at 225F, because the smoker kept shutting down (I had done a burn-in on the smoker side a while back without issues, but have been cooking on the griddle half before yesterday). I was considering changing out the pellets in case it was a moisture issue, but first I tried running it up to 450F for about 20 min, and after that if worked fine when it came back to 225F. I smoked the ribeye at 225F to a 105F internal temp (found my smoker probe and my Thermapen agreed within about 2F), then I seared it on the propane griddle side. Unfortunately, I overshot the steak temp during searing so it was medium rather than medium rare. The ribeye was still quite moist, and pretty good although not at the doneness I prefer. Didn’t think that I was getting a lot of smoke flavor though. Next time I’ll probably pull it from smoker at 100F and then sear it on the griddle. The griddle really puts a nice sear on it due to the large area of surface contact! This morning I’ve been watching pellet reviews to see if I might want to make changes. Very interesting to note that in the review Jeremy did with TheBBQHQ, Traeger pellets were the top-rated ones using multiple tasters. I’d suspect that might be influenced by what the tasters use at home, as mentioned in the review.
That's the main problems I have is not enough flavor. I have been using pitboss because of traeger pellet issues. But I also use a smoke tube with chips in it. Thanks for the tip.
I’ve been using kingsFord. I get at my grocery store $15. It says 100% wood no fillers or binders. They carry hickory and cherry. I have tried Treager I can’t say I notice a difference except price. I just ordered hickory cookinpellets. A couple of bucks more but free shipping. I’m cooking on a ZGrill. Everything I’ve cooked has come out good but I don’t have anything to compare it too. I’ll see if I notice any difference.
Kingsford are great pellets…they’re made by Lumberjack 👍
Same here, very happy with Kingsford pellets!
@@tank4dacubz799 Did not know this. I will try them, because I see Kingsford pellets around here. But not Lumberjack.
@@shawngillogly6873 Yeah, my local place had Kingsford reps out earlier this year - they gave me a 6# bag to try. Asked my guy what he thought about them & he said "They're great, Lumberjack makes them." Tried the hickory and they were indeed quite good.
I usually go with a local supplier here (I get some awesome mesquite pellets from W. TX), but LJ & KF are my other go to pellets.
I did just order some of those hickory CookinPellets to try!
Ditto on Kingsford. They go in and out of stock but I can usually find them at one of the Walmarts in my area.
OK Jeremy, you hooked me. I subscribed and rang the bell. You seem to give the straight story with no fillers. I like that. P.S. I'm a newbie to pellet grills and so far I love my GMG Peak!
I’ve had some issues maintaining heat/fluctuating temps and been using Traeger pellets, will have to try your recommended brands to see if the pellet is the issue. Appreciate your commentary!
Just started researching pellet smokers and came across this video. Thanks for the info and will be a following fan from now on!
I have also found B&B post oak pellets to be a great, affordable option. However, as important as the quality of pellet you’re using is, it doesn’t automatically equate to a great smoke ring or that bark that you’re looking for to replicate the results of a stick burner. To do that, you have to slow the process way down in a pellet cooker if your going to get that “Texas brisket” bark that we all love. Forget 12 hour cooks. Think in the 16-20 hour ballpark. Malcolm Reed does a great pellet cooker brisket video that helped me understand how to extend the cook to help create that Texas style bark that’s still a massive crowd pleaser when there just isn’t time to manage the offset.
B&B post oak are the best I have found. They don’t give off a cardboard smell like others I have tried. I use the same technique also smoke for at least 12 hours then turn up and cook to tenderness
We’re happy we can find B&B available here in Florida.
@@rickylozano891 cool first name yo
I love their mesquite and their pecan pellets 👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽
I 100% agree. Pellet smoker make it easy to cook overnight too!! I’ll have to give the B&B a try
I have used the Treager pellets and had inconsistent tempreture which causes a build up of saw dust. I had some after burn problems with my smoker lighting again when I went to put it in storage a few hours after the cool down. So I have switched to Bear Mountain and have had good luck so far. I've went through about 6 bags of the Bear Mountain with cooking everything from brisket to wings and had constant smoke that I've liked.
BBQers Delight Peach Pellets! I smoked a turkey with them two years ago and then again last year. BEST by far we've ever had. Their pellets are 100% wood, the peach are actually 30% peach/70% oak. Really nice flavor.
Great enlightening video. I'll be checking out these others.
Jeremy - Nice job on this subject. Difficult to sort through brands for anything BBQ. Thanks for educating us. We have used Cookin’ Pellets in three generations of Traeger smokers with good success.
Thanks so much for this information. I've just been using Jealous Devil because it's my go-to lump. Gonna order some Knottywood and Cookin' Pellets and see how they compare.
Love Cookin Pellets and BBQrs Delight. I'm really excited to open this bag of Wine Country BBQ pellets which is wine infused oak.
Love Cookin pellets ultimate blend is all I use!
BBQrs Delight is the same people who make B&B
Cookin Pellets Perfect Blend is my favorite too. I'd like a good cherry or pecan pellet for ribs. But I can't complain about anything I've cooked with Cookin Pellets.
I have had a Traeger, Yoder, GMG and now I have the new Long star pellet grills and I have tried just about all brands pellets and the ones I like is Lumberjack and Smoke ring. Thanks Mad for the really well done videos you do.
I agree!! I have been a Lumberjack and Smoke ring dealer for years and have had excellent results with my customers. No complaints yet.
I've had good results in my GMG DB Prime with Lumber Jack, Bear Mountain, and B&B. B&B Championship has become my "standard" pellet right now because of burn rate, heat output, and the blend of post oak, pecan, and cherry taste great and give great color, bark, and most of all great smoke flavor to everything I cook.
I just got my first smoker and a bag of bear mountain pellets, ganna make pulled pork this weekend. Hopefully they're good, they had a great smell when i did my burnin
One of the main reason I follow you is because you share your experience with your viewers. Thank you!!!!
I use Kingsford Classic Blend. I have NEVER been left wishing there were more flavor. Try them out!
That's the Walmart special
@@mikewhitmore4502 I've never been to Walmart. I buy them at Meijer.
I bought a whole pallet of Kingsford pellets from Lowe's it's never let me down on my hundreds of brisket cooks.
@@thegrillace I've never seen them on the west coast.. Walmart has putt boss and lowes has traeger
@@mikewhitmore4502 I have seen lowes have the pitboss 40 pound bags for 14.99.
I bought a pellet smoker and the very first pellets that I bought were Lumberjack hickory pellets. I have never tried any other pellets because these worked very well. They are also available at Atwoods where I live in Texas.
I’ve been using Lumberjack, mainly oak and pecan for years, so it”s gratifying to have my decision validated by other meat smokin’ folk!
I look forward to trying out the brands you mentioned that I had not heard of…THANKS!
great vid I use bear mountain pellets oak mostly here in north central mn its that or taeger can't find anything else locally
I use the Gourmet Traeger blend from Costco and the bag itself says Hardwood Pellets. Then in the description it describes that their U.S. mills process pure hardwood. The bag for it is also heavier duty than the normal bags.
Just food for thought. Great vid!
I’m going to give this blend a try. Did not like any traeger pellets. My go to is bear mountain
yea they use shitty alder wood.
I only use lumberjack pellets and I mix competition blend with char hickory 50:50. I smoke my meat for 30-45 minutes then turn the grill up for grilling the meat to get a canalization.
I have been using the BBQr’s Delight pellets. I’ve enjoyed the flavor they give and the selection of different woods they have like sassafras and orange. I’ve been using my pellet grill for over a year and I’m always wanting to try different things to improve the quality. Good luck on your elk hunt Jeremy.
Do you still like bbqrs delight? Trying to decide what pellets to go with
Love your videos! When will you have new merch on the site? Shirts, Hoodies, Etc. ?
Lumber Jack are my go to pellets...I get them at Dick's Sporting Goods of all places. Competition blend is probably my favorite overall...fruit woods are my second favorite.
Pro tip...Dicks will price match with Rural King who sells a 20lb back of Lumberjack for $8.88
@@Boots267 I wish I'd known that sooner! I bought probably 20 bags of Lumberjack this year from Dick's at $15 a bag.
Won't set foot in dick's they are anti 2nd amendment and anti American. Lets Go Brandon!!
Was looking forward to seeing the results of the Pellet Smoker VS Offset smoker face-off. Are we getting a video soon about that? Thank you for all the amazing content!
He did a pellet vs offset vs weber a few months ago. ua-cam.com/video/WDHLV7EaHCE/v-deo.html
There's no comparison...
When I add my smoke tube to my pellet smoker I just purchased recently with half chips and half pellets it is just a good if not better than my offset. That’s because I been using a offset for 25 years.
@@Jordanfiend361 this is what i do, i get a good smoke ring doing this. The taste is still better with lump and wood chunks on my wsm imo.
I have been using a pellet smoker for about five years and have used Traeger pellet pit boss pellet and lumberjack. Out of all three I have all ways notice lumberjack to be better. Lumberjack does have a blend and some of There flavors. I love watching your videos and have learned a lot from them. Thank you
Awesome info! Thank you for this. I just bought a pellet smoker and wasn’t happy with the first cook from Traeger pellets this weekend. You’re awesome, keep it up
I typically run the better pellets during the first 4 hours when you absorb the most smoke flavor, and then if I finish on my pellet smoker I switch to one of the cheaper blends, more recently it's been Sam's Club competition blend. From a cost and flavor perspective this is the best I have found so far.
Very good idea! I have some pellets that I don't like that I've been trying to get rid of.
@@TheTruth27536 that should work great
I go beyond that and finish my brisket in the oven once it hits the stall.
@@AnontheGOAT Does your house smell like smoke over the next week or two? I did that once and got tired of the smell. I mean, I love the smell and all, but not heavily 24/7. If I had a spare oven in the garage or something, this would be what I do as well.
@@TheTruth27536 nope. Once the brisket is done, the Smokey smell dissipates pretty quickly. Do you wrap yours in foil or butcher paper?
Bought my 1st Traeger around 2007, and I am on my 3rd. I used Bear Mountain on my 1st and it clogged the auger just before our class reunion. I now have an Ironwood 650 and look forward to testing out your pellet tips.
Thank you Jeremy! For someone that's fairly new to the backyard pellet smoker this video was super helpful. Makes you think about aspects of the product you buy and how it effects the flavor and overall out come. Super informative!
Seen many of this guys videos. He's fantastic! Many many Thx.
I've actually been waiting for you to do a video like this one. I wasn't sure if you would because I know pellet smokers are not your favorite. I've used Traeger pellets, and they are ok, but not great. I've also used Knotty Wood, and I LOVE them. I've tried both their pellets, almond and plum. I find the plum to be great for smoking bacon (which is a BIG consumer of my smoker time in this house). So it was good to hear someone who knows a lot more than I do give kudos to the pellets I use. I am interested in trying the CookinPellets, so those might just be my next purchase. Thank you!
May I ask how you prepare bacon in your smoker?
@@re1ner you can buy bacon racks online. I bought mine from Pit Boss's website, as I have a Pit Boss pellet smoker. What I love is that the racks have grease trays on the bottom that capture the bacon grease, which I put in mason jars and save for cooking with.
@@JSFurst nice. Looking at one on Amazon right now. How long does the grease last for you and do you refrigerate? Also, what's your cook time for the bacon? All the online recipes tend to overcook.
@@re1ner I leave it on the smoker for about an hour and a half at 225-250. I flip it on the racks half way through the cook. And yes, I refrigerate the bacon grease. It's hard to tell how long it lasts because I make a lot of bacon and use the grease pretty quickly. Though I really only keep 16 oz on hand at any time. This last one has been in the fridge about 3 weeks.
Love Lumberjack...they are local here in WI and the local Farm & Fleet store has them for $9 all the time and they often have them buy one get one 50% off.
We think B&B pellets are an incredible value. Haven’t found a better pellet for the price. We recently upgraded from Traeger Timberline 1300 to a Yoder YS640S and boy oh boy what a difference!
B&b are excellent
It’s the only brand I’ve seen around me, I wondered how how they compared.
I have never tried B and B. I’ll have to give it a shot
B and B Championship blend is the best I use them on my Lonestar Pellet Grill
B&B lump oak is the best there is as well.
I have had my recteq rt590 for 7 years. I cook 2turkeys 4chickens 2 pork shoulders and 2 packer briskets every week for meal prep. I use recteq ultimate premium blend and use a medium size smoker box and add diamond king smoking wood chunks like post oak on briskets. I have used just about every store available pellet when in a pinch and never seem to get the same quality. Thank you for all you do as it has
raised my bbq to a level of taste and consistency of quality time after time.
Good video, do you know if the brand of pellets you recommended run well in a Trager grill? For example, Do they gum up as you say or create a lot of ash?
From what I have seen, Traeger brand makes way more ash than others. And you use way more pellets for the same cook. I think if you use a cheaper hard wood, there is less BTU per lb than a real hardwood.
Thanks for the great video. Just checked, Academy Sports and Home Depot carries Knotty Wood pellets, if you have one near your area.
Can you try Sam’s brand “smokehouse” pellets the bag says natural with no flavors or oils. I really like them and would like to see how they stack up compared to some of the other top of the line brands.
I like the Smokehouse pellets also. I have also used the traeger and pit boss pellets. I personally think the smokehouse has a better flavor and I also realized this summer that the smokehouse pellets must have a harder pellet. I made pulled pork twice this summer, 10 hour smoke time. The first time was with pit boss and my hopper was almost empty by the end. The smokehouse hopper was just under half the second time. I've only had my smoker for about 2 years now but personally I think the smokehouse gives pretty good flavor
Thanks for this great video!! I am rookie just got a traeger pro 575 in august never smoked a thing before that. Now I use my smoker 3-4 times a week. I’ve only used what’s been available for pellets at Walmart. It’s been hit or miss. But now I know what to look for!
Bear mountain gourmet blend is my go to. I need to buy locally, I’m using 200lbs a month.
Same here..all i use is bear mountain.
Try Bear Mountain Bourbon BBQ!
@@marlostanfield1087 I will for sure!!
MS BBQ, I'm your newest student! Thanks for another informative video. I 've been using CookinPellets for many years. Never a problem and purchase them on Ebay.
I have tried several brands myself, and Bear Mountain BBQ pellets has a good flavor, burns hit and clean. Much less ash in burn pot, which you didn't get into in your video.
Thanks! I use Kingsford and Reqteq pellets. I have a Bullseye for grilling only. (I have a kamado and an offset for smoking) I will try some of the other pellets.
I have a Pit Boss Pro Series 4 smoker, and I’ve only used the pit boss branded pellets. However I’ve learned with this smoker if I cook at 225-ish I get awesome smoke ring and flavor. I plan on trying some of the brands in this video to see how they turn out, but my lower and slower method with my smoker provides awesome flavor with the Pit Boss branded pellets.
If you want more smoke in the meet just use the smoker tube
Just got a pit boss and 6 flavor pellets .. gotta lotta smoking to do before I can try another brand haha
Thank you! I am a novice at smoking meats. I own a Treager pellet smoker and Iike it a lot.My only complaint with it was lack of smoke flavor.I cant wait to try some different pellets. Your vids are great!
Thanks for the video Jeremy! I have a Blazn Grid Iron [similar in size to a Yoder YS640] and have almost always used Lumberjack pellets, mostly sticking to the Competition Blend [Maple Hickory Cherry Blend] (1/3, 1/3, 1/3). Good smoke flavor and have never had a clog or issue with them. And can be found fairly cheap at Rural King for around $9/20lb bag.
I’ve been telling people about lumberjack since I found out about it. Charred hickory is my favorite. Love that you are reinforcing my find.
Here is my 2 cents:
Cookinpellets- great flavor and smoke ring BUT my pit boss tends to flame out on overnight cooks with them.
Bear mountain- awesome pellets. I mix oak and hickory for my cooks when I use my pit boss.
Pit boss - lots is dust at the bottom and flavor is not quite there
Sams brand pellets - good all around pellet with great flavor and cheap.
My preference: bear mountain
I have not use lumberjack yet.
CookinPellets have been very good on my ZGrill. But I wouldn't mind testing Lumberjack if I could find them in my area.
Agree with your assessment. I've been using BM for years, since before they were Bear Mountain.
Thank you for making this video I use a Traeger with traeger pellets for years and I was never happy with my ribs or brisket. I never knew that pellets could make a big difference always thought they all the same. Thank you so much I can’t wait for warm weather and cook a brisket with new pallets.
Love the blends from BBQrs delight. Usually fast shipping too. Been experimenting with Bear Mountain recently and been happy with them as well. Cookin Pellets were great but I felt like my bags had a lot more jamming issues.
I have been running Cookinpellets exclusively in my GMG all summer and never had any jamming issues
I had no idea about this! Thank you very much for the info and recommendations.
Thanks for giving pellet smokers some airtime. An offset is in my future, but only after I'm done working 80 hours a week. Hope to see more pellet pit vids. Always very good results with pitboss, but will try the others.
I have 3 rec teq grills. I use bnb post oak pellets when doing competitions. At home I use bnb comp blend.
He's not the scientist we deserve, he's the one we need!
thank you for the valuable tip!! Greatly appreciated!!
I got a Camp Chef SG24 last month. Before my first cook I extensively researched different types of pellets. I came to the same conclusion as you, look for bags that say "Natural hardwood". I really wanted Lumberjack but in a small town my local store didn't have any. The second best I found was Bear Mountain pellets, specifically Hickory and Mesquite. I went with the Hickory and had 5 successful cooks so far with amazing flavor and smoke rings. I really want to try Pecan, might have to order online. Thanks for confirming and adding to the knowledge I already had.
Awesome video. Thanks a bunch for the advise.
My first bag of pellets was a Bear Mountain mesquite and I was very happy with the results. Wanting to try something new, I bought Pit Boss from WalMart... Underwhelmed to say the least. Bear Mountain went on sale at my local grocery store for @ $12 a bag and they never raised the price back up so I've been buying their varieties and have never been disappointed.
The Bear Mountain Oak and Pecan are staples for me.
I've had good results with bear mountain too, will definitely grab a bag of lumberjack to try next spring/summer though (I have at least 40lb left to use, and the smoker doesn't see much use in the winter).
I came here to also endorse Bear Mountain. I typically use Oak, Maple, or Alder.
I have been using a traeger smoker for over a year now and I've used a lot of different brands. I never liked traeger pellets or pit boss pellets, ever since I used lumberjack, I've never used anything else. Awesome video!
Man I love this channel. Any way I went from sticks to pellets (life was getting in the way) and I really missed being able to make my own blends of wood. I've found that Bear Mountain (can be found at Tractor Supply and Lowe's) has the best pellet for blends. For an exceptional smoke of one type of wood, I agree Knotty Wood (can be found at Home Depot) is where it is.
Is knotty wood only almond and plum? Do they have more traditional flavors?
I own a Pit Boss and have been wanting to try Bear mountain pellets, thanks.
@@GabbaGhoul89 yeah it's just the two flavors of almond and plum. But honestly they're both really well rounded that I don't really have a problem with just the two flavors.
@@airbrgr No problem. I really like their Bold BBQ blend and the Bourbon Whiskey Pellets as well.
A buddy recommended Bear Mountain to me last night!
Can’t wait for the pellet comparison video.
I don’t have local access to lumberjack but I usually go for GMG or Bear Mountain pellets.
Get back in the woods and get an elk! That is way more important. I enjoy all of your videos and I'm looking forward to hear your opinion on the charcoal palettes that came out. Pellet grills aren't my favorite but they are a convenient option.
Awesome Knowledge! Thank you so much!
I’m pretty sure B&B pellets have the same characteristics of those Lumberjack. It even says on their website for their Oak pellets.
No Scrap Wood
No Bark
No artificial flavors/smoke
No Alder or Soft Wood
Real Wood
Less Ash
Cleaner-Longer Burn
I have tried B&B and they are great, I am not an expert but price-wise and now adding the fact that they are 100% wood makes them a go-to brand.
I tried B&B and was disappointed with the burn. They produced a lot of Ash and it seemed like I went through them rather quick as well.
I found B&B post oak at HEB and will buy more. I like the flavor and feel like they lasted longer than other brands I've tried.
Jeremy, that was a great video you did. Really dig all you videos. Keep up the great work!
I use bear mountain fairly cheap and easy to find in my area. I thought they had great flavor until I used an offset for 4th of July weekend and now I find the flavor lacking. Bought a smoke tube to try and enhance flavor trying it out tomorrow actually, so we shall see.
Let us know the result. I too am looking at getting a smoke tube to add smoke flavor.
Smoke tube adds enough smoke flavor for me. Although nothing beats true offset smoker
I agree, adding smoke tube is a must. Kinda tricky to get it going so that it’s not totally smoldering with thick smoke. I prefer the Amazn smoker maze. Make sure you get the one specifically for pellets.
Hey Jeremy. Started cooking on my basic treager back in 2016. Had some amazing fun with it. I'm a kettle grill guy but really missed the set it and forget it cook. The price for my new twenty-two was to good to pass up. I certainly do have some refresher to catch up on. Brands of pellets. Time and temps. Really dig your channel.
Great job, Jeremy. This is going to be one of your most-viewed videos ever!